Top 5 pairs with 200+ run stand in IPL history

One of the things that fans often want to see is two batters feasting on the opponent bowlers, subsequently, stitching massive stands between them, often breaching the 200-run mark- a special total in T20 cricket.

Top 5 pairs with 200+ run stand in IPL history

AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli

Since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, along with the high-voltage ones, there have been several edge-of-the-thriller matches that fans have witnessed. One of the things that they often want to see is two batters feasting on the opponent bowlers, subsequently, stitching massive stands between them, often breaching the 200-run mark- a special total in T20 cricket.

However, often such matches turn out to be one-sided ones, as the other team fumbles with pressure and ends up producing a lackluster outing, biting the dust in front of the whopping target. Though it was rare at first among the batters to build a 200-run stand between them during T20 cricket’s initial phases, nowadays, the slam-bang approach has reached another level and a team’s reaching 200 has become a regular sight, but batters’ racking up 200 or more runs between them for any wickets keep enthralling the fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO1v7u-Z-J0

One name that stands out among the batters who have been involved in stitching huge stands with his batting partner is Virat Kohli. The former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper has taken the IPL by storm on several occasions and his name will appear thrice on the list of pairs with 200-plus run stands.

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Top 5 pairs with 200+ run stand in IPL history

Top 5 pairs with 200+ run stand in IPL history
Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers

1. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers- 229

The two destructive RCB batsmen have recorded the highest run partnership in the history of the IPL. This, they created in 2016 against a new entrant team (but now defunct), the Gujarat Lions.

The two classy batters, Kohli and de Villiers, slammed their respective centuries after the team was asked to bat first. Though they were a bit sluggish at first, after 11 overs, they started sending the ball out of the park.

Mr 360 hammered 129 from 52 balls, while his partner, Kohli, did not play the role of an aggressor at first but with three overs left, he turned into something else. He was 52 off 41 at that time but went ballistic in the death overs, and after playing over 12 deliveries, he would complete a stunning century, racking up a monstrous 248/3 in their 20 overs.

2. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers- 215*

The dangerous duo also stands second on the list. After the departure of Chris Gayle for mere runs, Mumbai Indians must be celebrating but even their star pacer Lasith Malinga had no answer against Kohli and de Villiers who notched up a 215-run stand between them.

De Villers remained unbeaten at 133, which also happens to be his highest individual runs in IPL. He belted four sixes and a whopping 19 boundaries. Kohli, meanwhile, remained not out at 82. Their knocks helped RCB pile up 235 runs in 20 overs and later, the hosts at the Wankhede Stadium fell short of 39 runs.

3. Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul- 210*

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) marked their arrival in 2022, and told everyone that they are not to be taken lightly. The duo demoralized Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowlers, notching up the highest opening stand in the history of the cash-rich league.

The Proteas remained unbeaten at 140, with 10 fours and an equal number of sixes. On the other hand, the LSG skipper, KL Rahul hammered 68 from 51 balls.

4. Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh- 206

Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) captain Adam Gilchrist had gone into a carnage mode with fellow Australian Shaun Marsh to maul RCB, at the same time forged a mammoth 206-run stand for the second wicket in 2011.

Their blistering knocks drove the team to 232/8 after which, they clinched an emphatic 111-run victory over the Kohli-led team. Though Marsh’s contribution was 79* off 49, at one point, he hammered 30 runs off Johan van der Wath.

5. Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli- 204*

Along with de Villiers, Virat Kohli also shares numerous batting stands with the Universe Boss. In 2012, the duo shared an unbeaten 204-run stand against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

It was Gayle’s second season with the RCB after the franchise signed him in 2011 as a replacement for Dirk Nannes. The tall left-handed batter, who can smash the bowlers out of the park without caring to run between the wickets, has a record of slamming six centuries, and one of them he plummeted in this match against Delhi.

Gayle remained not out at 128 from 62 balls, with seven fours and 13 monstrous sixes. Kohli, on the other hand, collected an unbeaten 75 from 53 balls, which in the end took RCB to 215/1, later winning the match by 21 runs.

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